**G305 syllabus**

Geography 305: Environmental Change - Nature and Impact

Fall 1998

Dr. Sara Pryor.

Section # 2590

Meeting place: WH 106

Meeting time: MW 1:00-2:15

Contacting the instructor:

Office hours: MW 11:30-12:30

Office: SB 310

E-mail: spryor@indiana.edu

WWW address of course information & useful links: http://php.indiana.edu/~spryor/g305fall98

Description: An integrated systems approach to examining the forcing, system response and impacts of environmental change. Key scientific areas: climate variability, sensitivity and prediction, environmental chemistry, ecosystem and anthropogenic responses.

Course text:

Required:

Turco R. (1997): Earth Under Siege. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0-19-507286-3

Supplemental:

Turekian K. (1996): Global Environmental Change. Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0-13-303447-X

Course topics and readings:

Week	Topic	Reading from text Turco (above) Turekian (below)
1-4	Fundamentals: Types & the nature of change Review of the basic physical & chemical principals we shall use The atmosphere Chronologies (the dating game) Global biogeochemical cycles	Chp 1-3, 10 Chp 1, 5
4-5	Evolution of the earth’s atmosphere	Chp 4 Chp 3
5-6	Climate variability/change in the geological record. Casual factors & climate responses. Including techniques for determining past climates.	Chp 11 Chp 2, 4, 6
7	Desertification - climate change or human impact?	**
8-9	"Greenhouse warming"	Chp 12 Chp 7
10-12	Stratospheric ozone depletion	Chp 13 Chp 8
12-13	Local and regional air quality issues	Chp 5-7 Chp 9
14-15	Environmental acidification/eutrophication	Chp 9 Chp 9
15	Review

** reading set from current literature.

Note: Supplementary readings may be set at the start of each topic. These readings will be taken from recent journal articles and books. They will be put on reserve in the Geography and Map Library in the Student Building.

Assignments:

2 Exercises: Calculations and interpretation of data based on techniques and concepts discussed in class.

Exercise # 1. 15% of final grade.

Exercise # 2. 20% of final grade.

1 Paper. An example of environmental change from the literature. 25% of the final grade. You will be required to research and synthesize an example of environmental change of your choice.

Final. 40% of the final grade. The final exam will incorporate both essay questions and calculations.

Grading scale:

A⁺: 95-100%, A: 90-95%, A^-: 85-90%. B⁺: 80-85%, B: 75-80%, B^-: 70-75%. C⁺: 65-70%, C: 60-65%, C^-: 55-60%. D⁺: 50-55%, D: 45-50%, D^-: 40-45%. F: <40%.

Important dates:

Lecture class will not meet during Thanksgiving: Wednesday 25 November.
Final exam: 5:00-7:00pm Wednesday 16 December.

Friendly reminders:

Turn up to class. The lectures will not be directly from the course text and readings.
Do your readings.
Hand in assignments in on time. Late submissions will be penalized by a 10% deduction for each 24 hour period.
Attend the exam. I will ask you fair questions based on the course material (there will be no surprises!).
Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. The policy on academic dishonesty included in the Schedule of Classes and student academic handbook will be strictly adhered to.
I expect all students to show common courtesy to myself, and each other during lecture and discussion sessions.

Interesting WWW sites:

Stratospheric ozone depletion.

UNEP Ozone Secretariat.

Global climate change

Information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Information from skeptics.

Specifics on individual greenhouse gases from the EPA.

Desertification

United Nations Environment Program.

Comets & climate change (& worse!)

Comets!.